Cut Fabrics

Cut pieces in the following order.

For the top and bottom middle border, we used a train border print where the design was printed parallel to the selvages. If you use a similar print, fussy-cut the middle border strips lengthwise (parallel to the selvages).

From white print, cut:
84-1/4" squares, cutting each diagonally twice in an X for 32 small triangles total
313-7/8" squares

From scraps of dark blue tone-on-tone and the assorted prints, cut:
84-1/4" squares, cutting each diagonally twice in an X for 32 small triangles total (8 sets of 4 matching triangles)
163-7/8" squares, cutting each in half diagonally for 32 large triangles total (8 sets of 4 matching triangles)
153-7/8" squares
83-1/2" squares

Assemble Blocks

1. For one block, gather four small triangles and two 3-7/8" squares from white print; two light blue tone-on-tone 3-7/8" squares; four small triangles from one assorted print; four large triangles from a second assorted print; and one 3-1/2" square from a third assorted print.

2. Use a pencil to mark a diagonal line on wrong side of white print 3-7/8" squares.

3. Layer a marked white print 3-7/8" square atop a light blue tone-on-tone 3-7/8" square. Sew 1/4" on each side of drawn line (Diagram 1). Cut pair apart on drawn line to make two triangle units. Press each triangle unit open, pressing seam away from white print, to make two triangle-squares. Each triangle-square should be 3-1/2" square including seam allowances.

5. Sew together a white print small triangle and an assorted print small triangle to make a triangle pair (Diagram 2). Press seam toward darker print. Repeat to make four identical triangle pairs total.

6. Join a triangle pair and an assorted print large triangle along long edges to make a star point unit (Diagram 3). Press seam toward large triangle. The star point unit should be 3-1/2" square including seam allowances. Repeat to make four star point units total.

7. Referring to Diagram 4, lay out triangle-squares, star point units, and assorted print 3-1/2" square in three rows. Sew together pieces in each row. Press seams away from star point units. Join rows to make a star block; press seams toward center row. The block should be 9-1/2" square including seam allowances.

Assemble Quilt Center

1. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, lay out four star blocks in a vertical row, rotating every other block 90º so that seams will interlock. Join blocks to make a block row; press seams in one direction. The block row should be 9-1/2x36-1/2" including seam allowances. Repeat to make a second block row.

Assemble and Add Middle Border

1. Join a railroad sign print 3-1/2" square and a train border print 3-1/2x36-1/2" strip to make a short middle border strip. Press seam in one direction. The strip should be 3-1/2x39-1/2" including seam allowances. Repeat to make a second short middle border strip.

2. Sew short middle border strips to top and bottom edges of quilt center. Press all seams toward inner border.

3. Use a pencil to mark a diagonal line on wrong side of each remaining white print 3-7/8" square.

5. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, sew together 15 border triangle-squares to make a long middle border strip. Press seams in one direction. The strip should be 3-1/2x45-1/2" including seam allowances. Repeat to make a second long middle border strip.